The Blazers' second-year players, including Meyers Leonard and Will Barton, will show off how much they've improved after one NBA season and a busy, basketball-filled summer. And it all will happen during a new, tournament-style Las Vegas Summer League.

A primer on the 11-day event:

New format

For the first time since Las Vegas started hosting summer league games in 2004, the event will feature a tournament format and crown a champion. Games began Friday, the first of five days of seeding competition during which all 22 summer league teams play three games against predetermined opponents. The tournament opens Wednesday and will be seeded based on the results of those early games. The Blazers are guaranteed to play a minimum of five games, but would play more if they reach the championship matchup on July 22.

History: The Blazers are 20-16 all-time since summer league moved to Las Vegas.

Summer storylines

It's hard to remember a Blazers summer league featuring so many compelling storylines. That happens when seven of the 14 players expected to be on the NBA roster also are playing in July. Here are some of the most compelling:

The maturation of Meyers Leonard: Reports from summer league practice about the Blazers' second-year center have been overwhelmingly positive and team insiders say he arguably has been the most impressive player this week. But how much has Leonard improved? Has he expanded and enhanced his low-post scoring ability? Has he grasped the nuances of defending the paint and protecting the rim? Can he rebound and block shots with more consistency? Can he stay out of foul trouble? Ten days of summer league won't answer all of these questions, but it should offer clues.

Can Will bring the Thrill? Perhaps no player has escaped the summer spotlight more than second-year shooting guard Will Barton. After enjoying a strong finish to the 2012-13 season, Barton has "been living in the gym" this summer, mostly working on his two biggest weaknesses: shooting and decision-making. There will be an opportunity for Barton to carve out a significant role next season as a backup shooting guard and the growth he makes this summer -- particularly in those two areas -- is important. "I see an opportunity," Barton said. "Now's the time for me to seize it."

Can CJ McCollum live up to the hype? The No. 10 pick in the NBA draft, who regularly draws comparisons to Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry, has arrived in Portland with a lot of fanfare. But, the truth is, most Portlanders haven't seen the rookie guard from unheralded Lehigh play. The Blazers say McCollum's ability to shoot, facilitate and create will allow him to play both point guard and shooting guard next season, and he'll play both extensively in Las Vegas. Lillard shared MVP summer league honors last season, and although it would be unrealistic to expect McCollum to duplicate that feat, the next 10 days will offer a glimpse into what McCollum might be able to provide as a rookie.

What does a motivated Thomas Robinson look like? GM Neil Olshey snagged the second-year power forward from Houston in a trade just before the start of NBA free agency. Robinson had a roller-coaster rookie season, playing for two teams and failing to live up to the hype that comes with being the No. 5 pick of the NBA draft. But he's still oozing with talent, and Olshey has called the trade an "absolute steal" for the Blazers. Robinson's rookie season either humbled him or hardened him. It definitely motivated him, and summer league will offer a taste of what this means about his potential.

Is Allen Crabbe really ready to contribute? Did the Blazers get a steal by trading for Crabbe on draft night? Or did he slide to the second round for a reason? Crabbe's shooting, size and basketball intelligence have been touted, and he was widely successful in college, earning Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year honors last season at California. The Blazers have an opening at backup shooting guard, and Crabbe can enhance his chances with a standout performance in Las Vegas.